MORE than 4,000 school children across Devon have learned the skills to save a life, thanks to a partnership between St John Ambulance and Babcock International Group.

Pupils from 118 schools, including several in Mid Devon, have been trained by experts from the first aid charity, made possible by funds from the UK’s engineering support services company.

JJ Bowley, Babcock’s director of Education Services, said: “As education is a core part of work that Babcock does, our current partnership with St John Ambulance is a great complement to that.

“Ensuring children and young people at such a young age are equipped with the skills to save lives is a tremendous thing and the quality of training they get is amazing.”

Babcock LDP works in partnership with Devon County Council to deliver education improvement and support services across over 350 schools.

And the company’s staff have been raising funds for St John Ambulance, too, having collectively raising £50,000 over the past year.

“St John Ambulance’s target was to train 3,500 children in skills such as resuscitation, plus how to treat choking, shock, burns and scalds, fainting and chest pains.

Steve Hargreaves, regional director for St John Ambulance in the South West, said: “We’re delighted to have exceeded our target, because this partnership with Babcock has helped us with our mission to create a generation of life savers.”

For more information on St John Ambulance’s work, visit www.sja.org.uk or call 08700 104950.